A Day Out at Windsor Great Park

17 May 2021

Posted under: Hobbies & interests

Windsor Great Park 1 min

Encompassing 5,000 acres of parks, gardens and woodland, Windsor Great Park is a spectacular open space with a rich Royal history.

Nearby to our Berkshire communities in Wokingham, Sandhurst and Crowthorne, there’s lots to see and do across the Park, making it a great family day out this summer.

History of the park

Windsor Great Park has played an important role in many Royal moments over the years. As far back as 1066 is when William the Conqueror decided to build a residence at the Park – Windsor Castle – the outer walls of which are the same ones constructed at that time. Many years later, Queen Victoria during her reign was known to enjoy picnics at the Park. Her husband, Prince Albert, also made a big impact on the Park; building cottages for workers on the Estate and establishing the Royal School for children of those workers. In more recent times, Queen Elizabeth II visited the Park in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

What to see

The most well-known image of Windsor Great Park is the iconic view of the Long Walk, stretching for three miles along the tree-lined avenue from Snow Hill, where the Copper Horse statue of King George III is located, to Windsor Castle. To the east of the avenue is the Deer Park; formerly a hunting reserve, the Park is now home to a population of 500 Red Deer that roam freely around the estate. No visit to Windsor Great Park would be complete without exploring the beautiful gardens – The Savill Garden and The Valley Garden – both transformed in the warmer months with colourful, sweet-smelling flowers. Adjacent to the latter garden is Virginia Water Lake, popular for its sparkling water and abundance of wildlife.

Eat & drink

Across the Park are lots of scenic spots where visitors can enjoy a leisurely picnic. The Savill Garden Kitchen at the garden’s visitor centre has fantastic options to tuck into, from burgers and salads to wood-fired pizzas, as well as spectacular roast dinners with all the trimmings on Sundays.

At the gate of Windsor Great Park is also the Wheatsheaf Hotel, a 17th-century hotel and pub, providing a warm atmosphere and serving excellent food seven days a week. The location is truly idyllic, overlooking Virginia Water in the majestic setting of Windsor Great Park

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Our Berkshire communities, such as Crowthorne, are located just a short drive away from the beautiful Windsor Great Park. Visit lifestory.group/renaissance/our-developments/ to find out more about each of these new communities with later-living homes available to rent or buy.